Born Betty Julia Hymans at 54 Cranhurst Road in Willesden, Middlesex,[1][2][3] she was married to entertainer Cyril Fletcher for more than 60 years, from 18 May 1941 until his death on 1 January 2005. They had a daughter, actress/comedienne Jill Fletcher.[4]

Astell acted with her husband on his television series, The Cyril Fletcher Show, and was one of the first people to appear in John Logie Baird's experimental television on the BBC's 30 line shows.[5]

Astell died in a hospital near her home in Guernsey, aged 93, seven months after the death of her husband.[4]